Providence City CouncilNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Providence City CouncilThu, 28 Dec 2017 00:08:23 +0000Providence City Councilhttp://ripr.org
Ian DonnisWho needs holiday presents when Rhode Island politics is the gift that keeps on giving? Thanks for stopping by for my weekly column. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome , and you can follow me through the week on the twitters . Here we go.TGIF: 20 Things To Know About Rhode Island Politics & Mediahttp://ripr.org/post/tgif-20-things-know-about-rhode-island-politics-media-69
92014 as http://ripr.orgFri, 22 Dec 2017 22:18:15 +0000Scott MacKayLegislation to rename Magee Street in Providence’s College Hill neighborhood to Bannister Street has been introduced by City Councilman Sam Zurier, a Democrat who represents the neighborhood. The measure would change the street named for 19th century Providence slave trader William Fairchild Magee to one honoring two of that era’s leading African-American citizens – Christiana and Edward Bannister. Christiana Bannister was a business leader and philanthropist and Edward was a celebrated painter. “By renaming Magee Street to Bannister Street, the city can give two African-American luminaries the recognition they deserve,” said Ray Rickman, a former state representative from the East Side and historian, who is advocating for the change. Edward Mitchell Bannister was welcomed by Providence when he arrived in the city in 1870 after spending time in Boston and Canada. In 1876, he became the first African-American artist to receive a national award when he was named “Best Artist in America”Proposal To Rename Providence Street From Slave-Trader To African-American Painterhttp://ripr.org/post/proposal-rename-providence-street-slave-trader-african-american-painter
88604 as http://ripr.orgMon, 02 Oct 2017 20:15:39 +0000Proposal To Rename Providence Street From Slave-Trader To African-American PainterIan DonnisYour humble correspondent never expected to be in the Statehouse for a budget vote in August . Then again, Rhody politics is full of surprises, right? So thanks for stopping by. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome , and you can follow me through the week on the twitters . Here we go. 1. A semblance of order was restored to the Statehouse budget process when the Rhode Island Senate made an overdue vote Thursday for the state's new $9.2 billion spending plan. On the surface, the compromise that ended the month-long impasse seemed like a square deal: the House got its budget passed (with the start of the car tax phaseout, a key priority for Speaker Nicholas Mattiello ), and the Senate registered its concerns about the sustainability of that phaseout. Yet divisions remained even after the spending plan was quickly signed by Governor Gina Raimondo . Senate President Dominick Ruggerio maintained the stalemate was based solely on policy differences. Informed of that, Mattiello choseTGIF: 20 Things To Know About Rhode Island Politics & Mediahttp://ripr.org/post/tgif-20-things-know-about-rhode-island-politics-media-52
86088 as http://ripr.orgFri, 04 Aug 2017 20:44:18 +0000Ian DonnisProvidence City Council Finance Committee Chairman John Igliozzi joined Bonus Q&A this week to discuss a range of issues, including City Council governing rules; a potential future as president of the council; and a proposed tower above the Providence River.Bonus Q&A: Igliozzi On Ethics, Municipal Pensions & Proposed Tower For Providencehttp://ripr.org/post/bonus-qa-igliozzi-ethics-municipal-pensions-proposed-tower-providence
86240 as http://ripr.orgFri, 04 Aug 2017 13:05:39 +0000Ian DonnisProvidence City Council Finance Committee Chairman John Igliozzi joined Political Roundtable this week to discuss how a budget impasse affected the largest city in Rhode Island; President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new immigration bill that would give priority to skilled workers; and Mayor Jorge Elorza’s job performance.Political Rountable: Igliozzi On RI’s Budget Impasse, Pension Reform & Immigrationhttp://ripr.org/post/political-rountable-igliozzi-ri-s-budget-impasse-pension-reform-immigration
86239 as http://ripr.orgFri, 04 Aug 2017 12:49:54 +0000John BenderProvidence holds a primary Wednesday in a special election for the City Council seat vacated by Kevin Jackson.Democrats Face-Off In Special Primary To Fill Providence City Council Seathttp://ripr.org/post/democrats-face-special-primary-fill-providence-city-council-seat
85149 as http://ripr.orgTue, 11 Jul 2017 12:23:37 +0000Democrats Face-Off In Special Primary To Fill Providence City Council SeatJohn BenderThe Providence Public School district is reviewing safety protocols, after school administrators failed to report allegations of sexual abuse by a teacher to the state Department of Children Youth and Families.Providence School Failed To Properly Report Sexual Abuse Allegationshttp://ripr.org/post/providence-school-failed-properly-report-sexual-abuse-allegations
84719 as http://ripr.orgFri, 30 Jun 2017 12:25:21 +0000Providence School Failed To Properly Report Sexual Abuse AllegationsScott MacKayCliff Wood, a former Providence city council member, director of the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy and longtime civic activist, has been appointed executive director of the Providence Foundation.Cliff Wood Hired As New Providence Foundation Executive Directorhttp://ripr.org/post/cliff-wood-hired-new-providence-foundation-executive-director
84391 as http://ripr.orgThu, 22 Jun 2017 19:51:00 +0000Cliff Wood Hired As New Providence Foundation Executive DirectorJohn BenderThe Providence City Council is expected to vote on the new city budget tonight. The $376 million proposal includes an increase in spending for the city’s schools.Providence Mayor Elorza Makes A Case For Increasing The City’s Public School Fundinghttp://ripr.org/post/providence-mayor-elorza-makes-case-increasing-city-s-public-school-funding
84052 as http://ripr.orgThu, 15 Jun 2017 12:59:59 +0000Providence Mayor Elorza Makes A Case For Increasing The City’s Public School FundingJohn BenderThe capital city is one step closer to a new budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The Providence City Finance Committee approved the amended spending plan Monday.Providence Is One Step Closer To A New Budgethttp://ripr.org/post/providence-one-step-closer-new-budget
83941 as http://ripr.orgTue, 13 Jun 2017 13:18:17 +0000Providence Is One Step Closer To A New BudgetJohn BenderThe Providence City Council begins public hearings Monday on the new proposed city budget, as the state’s largest city continues to struggle to close long-term deficits.Public Hearings For Proposed Providence Budget Begin Mondayhttp://ripr.org/post/public-hearings-proposed-providence-budget-begin-monday
83887 as http://ripr.orgMon, 12 Jun 2017 12:20:17 +0000Public Hearings For Proposed Providence Budget Begin MondayScott MacKayBanning smoking downtown would be an attack on the homeless and a waste of time for city police, who ought to be dealing with real crime, said Elorza. In his veto message, Elorza said, while this “`ordinance is ostensibly about smoking, its true target is the homeless community. Homelessness is a serious problem in Providence, just as it is in cities across the country. As you are aware, the causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and include substance abuse, mental illness and, of course, economic challenges.”’ The mayor went on to say in his veto message to the city council that the city has taken a number of initiatives to combat homelessness, including working with such agencies as Amos House, House of Hope, Crossroads and the Providence Center. Elorza, who is not a smoker, also said enforcing a downtown smoking ban would be distract law-enforcement resources, which are put to better use in battling the open-air drug dealing that has plagued Burnside Park and Kennedy Plaza inProvidence Mayor Elorza Vetoes Downtown Smoking Banhttp://ripr.org/post/providence-mayor-elorza-vetoes-downtown-smoking-ban
83484 as http://ripr.orgFri, 02 Jun 2017 19:13:52 +0000Providence Mayor Elorza Vetoes Downtown Smoking BanJohn BenderThe Providence City Council passed a controversial community policing ordinance Thursday night, known as the Providence Community-Police Relations Act. The measure, which increases protections against police profiling and codifies how police use body cameras, passed overwhelmingly with a 13-1 vote.Providence City Council Passes Police Profiling Ordinancehttp://ripr.org/post/providence-city-council-passes-police-profiling-ordinance
83468 as http://ripr.orgFri, 02 Jun 2017 12:30:31 +0000Providence City Council Passes Police Profiling OrdinanceJohn BenderThursday the Providence City Council votes on a community policing ordinance intended to reduce police profiling. Advocates have been working on the Community Safety Act for several years, and they were disappointed last month, when the Providence City Council tabled the measure in response to opposition from the police officers’ union.Providence's Revised Version Of Community Safety Act Scheduled For City Council Vote http://ripr.org/post/providences-revised-version-community-safety-act-scheduled-city-council-vote
83418 as http://ripr.orgThu, 01 Jun 2017 13:02:29 +0000Providence's Revised Version Of Community Safety Act Scheduled For City Council Vote John BenderThe Providence City Council Finance Committee held a public hearing on a new measure that would remove councilors from leadership roles following any criminal indictments.Providence Public Ethics Ordinance Hearing Has Light Turnouthttp://ripr.org/post/providence-public-ethics-ordinance-hearing-has-light-turnout
83345 as http://ripr.orgTue, 30 May 2017 22:59:09 +0000Providence Public Ethics Ordinance Hearing Has Light TurnoutXimena CondeThe push for the ordinance moves forward following an 8 to 5 Providence City Council vote in favor of the proposal, Wednesday – the second of two votes required for the ban to pass. Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza has said he plans to veto the ordinance, but that could be overridden if 10 councilors vote in favor of the ban.Downtown Providence One Step Closer To A Smoking Banhttp://ripr.org/post/downtown-providence-one-step-closer-smoking-ban
83144 as http://ripr.orgThu, 25 May 2017 14:55:21 +0000Downtown Providence One Step Closer To A Smoking BanJohn BenderThe Providence City Council withdrew a proposed rule change Monday that would have allowed councilors to remove a sitting president. The decision followed former President Luis Aponte’s recent resignation.Providence City Council Drops Proposed Rule Change Following Aponte Resignationhttp://ripr.org/post/providence-city-council-drops-proposed-rule-change-following-aponte-resignation
83030 as http://ripr.orgTue, 23 May 2017 13:11:10 +0000Providence City Council Drops Proposed Rule Change Following Aponte ResignationXimena CondeProvidence City Councilors will consider changing their governing rules, during a special council meeting Monday night. It would allow for the removal of the council president any time during his or her term with a two-thirds majority vote.Providence City Council To Consider New Rules Following Aponte Resignationhttp://ripr.org/post/providence-city-council-consider-new-rules-following-aponte-resignation
82975 as http://ripr.orgMon, 22 May 2017 15:20:03 +0000Providence City Council To Consider New Rules Following Aponte ResignationJohn BenderProvidence City Council President Luis Aponte has resigned. This comes after more than a week of pressure on the embattled head to step down from his post.Luis Aponte Resigns As Providence City Council Presidenthttp://ripr.org/post/luis-aponte-resigns-providence-city-council-president
82887 as http://ripr.orgFri, 19 May 2017 21:00:40 +0000Luis Aponte Resigns As Providence City Council PresidentJohn BenderA majority of Providence city councilors have scheduled a special meeting to remove their President Luis Aponte from his post. In order to do so, the council must formally change their rules. Currently, there appears to be no procedure to remove Aponte from his post. If the measure is adopted, this language would be added to the city council rules: “At any time during the term of the duly elected Providence City Council, the Providence City Council by two-thirds of all the members of the City Council may vote to permanently remove the individual who is currently serving as President of the City Council.” The announcement comes the day after 13 city councilors skipped a regular meeting, in an apparent protest of Aponte’s continued refusal to step down. This came after Aponte was indicted on felony charges of embezzlement and misuse of campaign money. Aponte has pleaded innocent. Since then, 12 councilors, as well as Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, and even the state’s Governor haveProvidence City Councilors Set Special Meeting To Remove Embattled Presidenthttp://ripr.org/post/providence-city-councilors-set-special-meeting-remove-embattled-president
82866 as http://ripr.orgFri, 19 May 2017 14:33:22 +0000Providence City Councilors Set Special Meeting To Remove Embattled President